I started using Google image search to find my stock photos all over the internet, which turned out to be REALLY FUN. I’m selling everything from snazzy bottled water to real estate, and my images are included in goofy quizzes, horror stories, and travel articles.

I also posted a term paper I wrote for school as a 3-part article on the 1692 earthquake that destroyed Port Royal, Jamaica. The interesting thing about it is that there are so many first-hand accounts of buildings collapsing and people being sucked right down into the sand. Two thirds of the town just slid into the sea and was covered over by silt, creating one of the best 17th-century colonial sites anywhere in the world.

Lowry Park Zoo has evening hours around major holidays so I was able to be there when the giant fruit bats were getting dinner and watched them crawl around which was both creepy and awesome. They also gave presents to the orangutans (one little girl thought the male was Chewbacca) which was pretty fun to watch. The Christmas lights were pretty of course but being a retail worker I CAN’T WAIT until the Christmas music stops. I always feel bad for the kid in “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” I mean, from his perspective, he thinks his mom is cheating on his dad. Should he tell him? If he doesn’t, then he’s keeping a big secret from his dad, but if he does, they might break up and it would be his fault. Poor kid. Also, whoever wrote the Chipmunk Song, I’d like to give you a high five. With my fist. On your face.

I attended the Sedona St. Patrick’s Day parade & festival (which is apparently a big deal, even though I’ve never seen a single reference to anything Irish anywhere in Arizona before) where I saw this gem of a float, labeled “Flags for Freedom”:

I was generally aware of the Manson Family murders but had never studied them in depth. Bugliosi prosecuted Charles Manson & a few of his followers in the trial of their most famous crime spree, the Tate-LaBianca murders, so the book is an in-depth, mostly first person account of one of the most sensational events in recent history. I didn’t expect to be genuinely creeped out, but the idea of one crazy person so thoroughly controlling his followers is pretty terrifying.

Favorite Quote:

“‘I think historically the easiest way to program someone into murdering is to convince them that they are alien, that they are them and we are us, and that they are different from us.’ [Dr. Joel Hochman, psychiatrist for the defense.]

The holiday is supposed to be about honoring the dead, but the art style of Dia de los Muertos is what gets my attention. The intricately painted skulls, the flowers, the makeup, the costumes – all incredibly beautiful in and of themselves. So when I found out there was going to be a festival at the local arts community, I had to go.

A lot of it seemed oddly non-traditional. I read there’d be fire dancers and thought that sounded awesome, I was sadly disappointed. I’m not really up on my Mexican culture but I’m pretty sure slow jazz and stilt-walking jugglers aren’t a big part of Day of the Dead.

But never mind all that. There were plenty of performers, decorations, and costumed visitors to make it interesting. There were dolls and shrines set up around every corner, booths with food and face-painting, and mural panels set up for anyone to paint a tribute to a lost loved one.

The arts mall was beautiful, and it only got better as it got darker and the candles became the main light source.

All in all it was a fun evening, even with the hokey stuff. I still haven’t been to a true Dia de los Muertos celebration, but this was good inspiration to go find one.